To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Trinity UMC Trinity United Methodist Church 838 North 25th Street Fort Dodge, IA 50501 515-573-3519 www.trinityumcfd.org facebook.com/trinityumcfortdodge February 2018 On January 6, I had the pleasure and privilege of attending the Artist Reception for Richard Black's exhibit at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum and Gallery. It was very well attended--standing room only--and his lecture was expository, humorous, and gracious. A few members of Trinity UMC were there, including Daryl Beall, who publicized the event to us and offered the photographs herewith. Richard is a creative genius, and his abstract pieces are simultaneously interesting, challenging, evocative, thoughtprovoking, and colorful! He is a nationally known, award-winning printmaker, and he taught for thirty-four years at Drake University. Check out his website for the variety of his work and for more about his color intaglio style using four zinc plates at richardblackprintmaker.com. His Visual Worlds --"Nothing by Chance" will be on display in Blanden's East Gallery through February 24. Richard Black, pictured with Daryl Beall s daughter, Lora. Don't miss it! - Dr. B, ***If you would like to receive the monthly newsletter via email, please contact the office at 515-573-3519.***
A LENTEN WORD The season of Lent comes quickly after the welcoming in of the New Year and enlightened aspirations of personal productivity, prosperity, and peace. The making of resolutions does not have a good record. Whereas after one month, about sixty percent have generally kept them, over the course of 365 days, the number of goals actually achieved are around only eight percent! Of course, one of the major problems with keeping resolutions is that the wording of the goal is most often cast as a negative proposition. Lifestyle changes should have positive formulations that affirm the creative process rather than oppositional ones that destroy bad habits. As a matter of fact, alterations in commitment and annual goals need not take the form of resolutions at all! In the fourth chapter of his first epistle to the Thessalonian Christians, Paul urges them to pursue lifestyles that are pleasing to God. If that notion would be our daily desire and goal, we would not have to bother with determining what to relinquish or to begin during Lent. Instead, we would already be inclined towards seeking to be the best persons we can be through the help of the Holy Spirit. Of course, we will fail along the way, for we are still flesh and are constantly tempted by mundane impulses. However, if the overall trajectory of our lives is to do what pleases God, we shall overcome and diminish our sins, for we already have the victory in Christ. So let us press on towards Resurrection Day! - Dr. B. FINANCE UPDATE Year to Date 12/31/2017 2017 Receipts - General fund $ 229,473.45 2017 Budgeted Bills paid to date $ 241,648.21 $ (12,174.76) Additional 2017 receipts needed - to date - if all 2017 Budgeted Ministry is to be carried out Additional responsibilities: 2017 Annual Apportionments $ 61,686.96 Trinity UMC General expenses $ - TOTAL UNPAID: $ 61,686.96 There are other non-planned incomes such as memorials, bequests, and various giving's designated for special needs and purposes. They will be noted in another manner in our newsletter and an appropriate "Thank You" given. A complete copy of the financials can be looked at or made at the office.
If you or someone you know is attending college or plans to attend college in the fall, the deadline for submitting your scholarship application is Friday, February 28 th. If you or someone you know would like to apply for a scholarship, please contact the office at 515-573-3519 or holly@trinityumcfd.org. Thank you to the following people who help decorate the sanctuary for the Christmas season: Jared Feddersen, Patsy Pukacz, Joann Feddersen & Ruth Babbit. Blanket the World with Love This Valentine s Day, you can provide blankets to people in need. You can help to Blanket the World with Love. Every year Church World Service gives away many blankets and they need your help to make this possible. For only $10.00, you can help to immediately provide a blanket for someone in need and to give them comfort from the cold. Not only does a blanket bring warmth, shelter, and security, but it also comes with a promise that Trinity United Methodist will be with them, to care for them while they get back on their feet. Please give generously and help blanket the world with love. Over the month of February just write blankets in the memo of your check and let s see how many blankets Trinity can provide. - Missions Committee Gladys Long Ilene Smith Rowena Bastian Shane Corey Lloyd Corey Carol Corey Joe Lennon Craig Cristensen Doris Ross Harold Jones Deb Shelton Linda Pingel The family of Frances Netz The family of Caroline Summers Jon Olson Joann Whittington Ramona Weins Amy (Perkins) Smith Prayers requests are updated on a regular basis. Please let us know if there is anyone you would like added. Thank you and have a blessed month! Service Men & Women TUMC College Students Give a call Show you care!
HOW POVERTY CHANGED A U.S. SENATOR Many folks living in quasi-urban areas in Iowa came from the Mississippi Delta, Holmes County to be precise. They came in connection with the Illinois Central Railroad, with the promise of job opportunities up North, although many of the first migrators found themselves as strikebreakers on the northeast side of Waterloo. Because of racial discrimination and segregation stemming from the aftermath of the Civil War, many descendants of African slaves found themselves in abject poverty. One hundred years after the burgeoning Reconstruction Era (1865-1877), Marian Wright, a lawyer working on behalf of the NAACP in Mississippi, had a story to tell members of a Senate subcommittee that was reviewing the progress of War on Poverty programs. What she shared was incredulous to them, and a few explored the possibility of finding out for themselves. One of them was the junior senator from New York, the former U.S. Attorney General, Bobby Kennedy. What he experienced shocked and saddened him, and he realized much more needed to be done. For someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so to speak, who had scarcely encountered the debilitating effects of poverty, this exposure and subsequent trips to Appalachia and to migrant communities out West in addition to his acquaintance with urban areas in the Northeast profoundly affected him. He began to think about a more comprehensive approach to eliminating economic depression and exploitation than was being prosecuted by Pres. Lyndon Johnson s administration. Whereas government was a central vehicle to driving out poverty, Kennedy realized that it would not be enough. He felt that partnerships needed to be developed among businesses, charitable organizations, nonprofits, and social service agencies with members of the community in order to provide a variety of opportunities, facilities, and amenities to attack poverty at its root. (continued to next page)
(continued from previous page) This multifaceted perspective was a radical shift for Kennedy from the 1950s and early 1960s. When the Freedom Riders encountered mobs in Alabama and elsewhere, when protestors rallied against the enrollment of James Meredith at Ole Miss, when the Birmingham campaign and Gov. George Wallace s posturing at the schoolhouse door at the University of Alabama forced the federal government to act, the Kennedy brothers seemed more concern about the political ramifications from southern Democrats than the ethical cause of racial justice. Bobby Kennedy sought to dismantle, divert, and dilute the intentions of the organizers of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which eventuated in the now-famous I Have a Dream speech and Dr. King s becoming Time magazine s Man of the Year in January 1964. By the receipt of that recognition, King was already under constant surveillance by the FBI. As U.S. Attorney General, Bobby Kennedy acquiesced to FBI Director Hoover s claim that King was consorting with known communists and engaging in immoral activities. This monitoring of King continued for the rest of his life. However, after his visit to places where people were destitute, Kennedy felt that King could help with the goal of alleviating poverty. Consequently, he suggested that Wright go to talk with King about addressing economic oppression. This prompting and dovetailing with King s own planning came together in formulating the Southern Christian Leadership Conference s Poor People s Campaign. The year 2018 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Poor People s Campaign. Sadly, it also commemorates the assassinations of King and Kennedy. Numerous activities are taking place to pay tribute to the two figures as well as to the Campaign. The Fellowship of Reconciliation and the NAACP are collaborating to focus on the persistence of poverty and how to eradicate or significantly reduce it. Another Poor People s Campaign is being put together. More to follow! - Dr. B.
Great Day of Music Our annual Great Day of Music is Sunday, February 25 th during the 9:30 worship service. Come and join in the joy of music! Participating in the service will be our Trinity Singer, Praise Team, children s choir and more! We ll be hearing from church family members who will be sharing testimonies as to how music in the church has impacted their lives. We ll be singing your favorite hymns and hearing about the background of those hymns. If you would like to share how music has had an effect on your life, contact Jared Feddersen at jaredfeddersen@yahoo.com What: The Breakfast Club Who: All students in 8 th - 12 th grades When: Sunday mornings, 10:30-11:45 We re Making a Change! Beginning in February, we re combining our High School Sunday school class with our weekly youth group. This newly formed Breakfast Club will meet every Sunday morning following the 9:30 worship service. We ll be nourishing body and soul. We ll share in a breakfast with a devotion/lesson while sharing the meal around the table. Then we ll move on to activities as we would at our youth group meetings. It promises to be a fun, meaningful group experience!! This week s meeting: Food for the body: Pancakes, sausage, juice/milk Food for the soul: Imperfectly Perfect lesson Please come and join us!! Attention Kids Along with our regular Sunday school lessons, we re also working on music to sing on our Great Day of Music which is February 25 th. Make sure you re here each week! If you are in the hospital and want a personal visit, please call the church. Hospitals no longer contact the church on your behalf so we need your help. Thank you!
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Ft. Dodge IA 50501 Permit No. 448 Return Service Requested Building a Church Leadership Connection: February 10, 9:00-11:00 a.m., Trinity UMC. Church leaders/members from our area/district will connect with one another, share our best practices, and learn from each other. Ministry areas to be discussed are: For questions, contact the pastor, Dr. B. Church Finance Trustees Worship & Music Staff-Parish Relations Education & Youth Administrative Council/Single Board